Kindness of a stranger

Hello my Blessed readers!

Kindness of strangers. It's real.

A memory surfaced during my gratitude practice, taking me back to a hike in China, a place called Tiger Leaping Gorge. A two-day adventure awaited. In true Mike McCarthy fashion, there was little preparation.

I began with eagerness to avoid being caught out after dark as I started later than expected, following what signs of a path I could find. The route, surprisingly well-paved and even trafficked by the occasional car—a sight I hadn't expected in a gorge—led me up through lush rice terraces. While the scenery was stunning I sensed something was off. About an hour in, a man in a pickup truck stopped next to me gesturing for me to join him. Hesitant, given the situation and my lack of familiarity with the area (and the fact that no one knew where I was), something inside me said to trust this stranger.

As we descended hills I had painstakingly climbed, frustration bubbled within me, mixed with confusion.The Chinese man didn’t say much just smiled. The situation grew even more peculiar as we entered a deserted quarry. Doubts swarmed my mind, but at the quarry's end, a revelation awaited—a small sign and a path carved into the rock. This was the actual path for Tiger Leaping Gorge. "Zao ba!!" he urged. Time to move!

Gratitude hit me as I grabbed my bag. This stranger had seen my misstep and corrected it, without expecting understanding or thanks. Motivated by the waning daylight and fueled by this act of kindness, I sprinted up the dusty path.

To that stranger, wherever you are, God bless you. May the kindness you showed me return to you tenfold. This newsletter will often return to the theme of strangers' kindness—not to suggest the world is a perfect place, but to acknowledge and celebrate the good people who cross our paths, reminding us that such encounters are precious and not always guaranteed in life.

Take A Moment to Reflect 🤔

Reflect on a moment when a stranger's simple act of kindness impacted your day—perhaps it was a smile, a helpful direction, or a moment of aid when you least expected it. How did this encounter change your feelings or perspective, even if just for a moment?

God Bless 🙏

Mike McCarthy